The Best Christmas Light Displays in Portland, Oregon

The Festival of Lights at the Grotto:

Christmas in Portland is a time for many spectacular displays of twinkling lights throughout the city. One of the most well known and beloved celebrations of Christmas is The Festival of Lights at the Grotto; an ecumenical lighting and music festival that is quite possibly the largest Christmas choral festival of its kind in the world. The grotto is The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a splendid 62 acre Catholic Shrine and Botanical garden. It is located at NE 82nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. Portland, OR. (503) 254-7948.

From November 4th to December 30th each year, the grounds of the Grotto are transformed into a breathtaking festival of Christmas splendor. The tradition began in 1988 and “welcomes all who seek the true spirit and meaning of Christmas”. In addition to the wonderful lights, there are hourly music concerts, outdoor caroling and other family oriented entertainment. The grotto features magnificent architecture, towering Douglas fir trees and an angel-covered Cliff in the background. The Grotto welcomes 60,000 visitors to the annual Festival of Lights.  5-9:30 pm every evening from Nov. 4 through Dec. 30.

The Christmas Tree at Pioneer Square:

Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees in the world and each Christmas season, downtown Portland’s Pioneer Square becomes the home to one of Oregon’s choice 70-foot trees. Pioneer Square, known as Portland’s living room, is a huge all-brick, multi-tiered plaza and is at the very heart of Portland’s busy downtown shopping district. Each year, just before Thanksgiving, the city puts up the huge tree and a tree-lighting ceremony is held on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. The massive tree becomes aglow with a multitude of colorful lights. The towering lighted tree at Pioneer Square is Portland’s sign that Christmas is coming. You can see the lighted tree at SW Sixth and Broadway, Portland, OR.